Call for Adelaide-based doctors to work in country hospitals

A new solution is being proposed to overcome a serious shortage of doctors in South Australia's country areas.

The state chairman of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Robin Chase, wants a pool of Adelaide-based physicians to spend a week at a time in designated country hospitals.

He says this could be backed up with telehealth consultations when the doctors return to Adelaide.

Dr Chase says it would help overcome a high level of burnout among country-based medical specialists.

"There are 850 physicians in South Australia but most of them live and practise in Adelaide, so we would actually set up a model that would allow those physicians to rotate through the country areas to provide the continuity of care that those regions currently don't enjoy," he said.

He says the idea is generating strong support from colleagues.

Dr Chase says it would be a particularly good chance for young Adelaide specialists yet to get hospital placements to work in country areas.

"Also it would allow greater supervision of our college trainees in those areas, so it's a win-win for the physicians and the community of course and for the trainees in those areas," he said.